Jutanugarn Prevailed in a Womens US Open that included 2 collapses. One from the eventual winner.

Saturday is moving day normally in any golf tournament and the Women’s US Open was no different. Coming into the weekend, Sarah Jane Smith who has not won a major in her career had the lead after two rounds. She would then go on to shoot a 2+ over 74 followed by a 6+over 78 to finish at 2-under for the tournament. Then on Sunday, with 9 holes left Ariya Jutanugarn a 7 stroke lead to grab her first Women’s US Open. That seven stroke lead would also disappear in the final 9 holes which would lead to a playoff with Hyo-Joo Kim. Jutanugarn would eventually win in sudden death to claim her second Major Championship.

The Smith collapse was not that unlikely to be honest as she has not contended this year thus far. She has not shown the type of game it would take to lead from start to finish. Ariya Jutanugarn the other hand has shown the ability to win on a big stage.

Ariya’s game would start to unravel on the 10th hole up 7 strokes. She would finish the hole with a triple bogey after losing her drive right. She would bogey the 12th hole, birdie 16, then bogey out to give Hyo-Joo Kim an opportunity. Kim is one of the most consistent players on the LPGA Tour and she would shoot a 5-under final round 67 that would bring her back into the tournament.

The two players would finish the aggregate playoff tied, which would force sudden death back to the 14th hole. Both players would battle back and forth only to see a great bunker shot by Jutanugarn lead to a short putt and a win in the 2018 Womens US Open.

Jutanugarn became the first players from Thailand to win a Women’s US Open. She was gracious in her win, she even clapped for her opponent during the first playoff Hole. She was gracious during her struggles and Especially while winning in the end. She played with great sportsmanship… something that everyone on the outside should take notice of. She won the right way, for that she should be commended. Not Ridiculed!

Final Leaderboard:

POS

PLAYER

TO PAR

THRU

1

Ariya Jutanugarn

-11

F

2

Hyo Joo Kim

-11

F

3

Carlota Ciganda

-7

F

4

Danielle Kang

-3

F

5

Lexi Thompson

-2

F

5

Patty Tavatanakit

-2

F

5

Wei Ling Hsu

-2

F

5

Sarah Jane Smith

-2

F

9

Inbee Park

-1

F

10

Michelle Wie

E

F

10

Charley Hull

E

F

10

Nasa Hataoka

E

F

10

Angela Stanford

E

F

10

Nelly Korda

E

F

10

Megan Khang

E

F

10

Ji-Hyun Kim

E

F

17

Jin Young Ko

+1

F

17

Lizette Salas

+1

F

17

Su-Hyun Oh

+1

F

17

Jeongeun6 Lee

+1

F

17

Eun-Hee Ji

+1

F

17

Madelene Sagstrom

+1

F

23

So Yeon Ryu

+2

F

24

Albane Valenzuela

+3

F

25

Jennifer Song

+4

F

25

Brittany Lincicome

+4

F

27

Marina Alex

+5

F

27

Hye Jin Choi

+5

F

27

Kristen Gillman

+5

F

27

Teresa Lu

+5

F

27

Sei Young Kim

+5

F

27

Jenny Shin

+5

F

27

Jodi Ewart Shadoff

+5

F

34

Georgia Hall

+6

F

34

Minjee Lee

+6

F

34

In-Kyung Kim

+6

F

34

Luna Sobron Galmes

+6

F

34

Caroline Masson

+6

F

34

Elizabeth Wang

+6

F

40

Rumi Yoshiba

+7

F

41

Moriya Jutanugarn

+8

F

41

Austin Ernst

+8

F

41

Brittany Altomare

+8

F

41

In Gee Chun

+8

F

41

Emily Pedersen

+8

F

41

Chella Choi

+8

F

41

Azahara Munoz

+8

F

41

Emma Talley

+8

F

49

Lydia Ko

+9

F

49

Hyun Kyung Park

+9

F

49

Jane Park

+9

F

52

Wichanee Meechai

+10

F

52

Ryann O’Toole

+10

F

52

Cristie Kerr

+10

F

55

Hailee Cooper

+11

F

55

Lucy Li

+11

F

57

Ashleigh Buhai

+12

F

57

Linn Grant

+12

F

59

Pernilla Lindberg

+15

F

59

Saranporn Langkulgasettrin

+15

F

61

Daniela Darquea

+18

F

62

Jillian Hollis

+19

F

63

Lindy Duncan

+20

F

Overbearing Broadcast

Her graciousness was questioned in a huge way from the Fox Sports Broadcast team, more so by two of the members of that team. First Paul Azinger had explained how he would not have clapped for his opponent, he would have stared them down after the putt. He talked about that moment on nearly every hole of the playoff. But I contest that In that moment, he needs to consider the situation and the players involved. But it would get worse….

That same team had not only questioned her clapping, but also written her off down the stretch wondering if she would ever again recover.(recover in her life, not just this round) Veteran LPGA Player and Analyst Julie Inkster was talking as if the world for Jutanugard was ending. Without knowing someone’s background and what they have accomplished in their life, its tough to go down that road as easily as they were able too. There is no doubt that if Ariya would have lost, it would have affected her…. but to talk about how that would…. not could affect her entire life, was uncalled for.

I am all for the dramatic call, but Fox Sports should be ashamed of their overstating what we saw. These are professionals yes, but Jutanugard is a 22 year old woman that had already won a major, and has her whole life in front of her. Twenty two years old is a little early to be writing someone off.

Both Jutanugarn and Kim were far and away the best players this week and showed that. It was a great Sunday battle, fun to watch from start to finish.